“The Bay meets the Waikato”
2 Day Tour
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Day 1 AUCKLAND –TAURANGA via WAIHI
0845 Depart Auckland. Head south on SH1 until you reach SH2 and take this route toward Tauranga.
1015 Arrive in Ngatea. We suggest time is taken here to have morning tea at a local Café. We recommend the Woodturners Café just off the SH27 turn off or the Copper Kettle Café in Ngatea (both options are at your own expense)
1045 Depart Ngatea for Paeroa.
1100 Arrive in Paeroa for a photo stop at the L&P Bottle.
1115 Depart Paeroa.
1130 Arrive at Karangahake for your ‘Guided Footprints’ Karangahake Gorge Golden Heritage Walk.
1145 Depart for a 45 min guided walk through the Gorge following the Heritage Gold trail and learn about the Gold Mining History in this area dating back to the 1870’s.
1230 Depart Karangahake.
1245 You then arrive in the town of Waihi. Time is available to take in lunch at a local Waihi café or we could recommend the Bistro at Falls Retreat in the Karangahake Gorge. (at your own expense).
1345 Arrive at the Gold Discovery centre for a self-guided tour of this award winning interactive Gold Discovery Centre – voted the ‘Best NZ Museum Visitor Experience’ in May 2015. This is found at the top end of Seddon Street, the main street in Waihi.
1445 You then depart from the Discovery Centre for your escorted Waihi Gold mine Tour of the Martha Mine, an actual working gold mine.
1615 Next you continue on your journey to Tauranga continuing south on SH2.
1715 Arrive at your accommodation for tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Armitage – Bed & Breakfast Basis, 9 Willow Street, Tauranga
1800 You are collected from your hotel for your Dinner in the Park experience with Guided Footprints
1830 On your arrival dinner is served, a Kiwi BBQ dinner including an assortment of marinated meats and salad complimented with dessert! If required we provide warm blankets to wrap around to keep you warm while you enjoy the cuisine.
NOTE: Winter (Apr/Sept) will include a glow worm walk after dinner, Depending on the client’s feeling/agreement they will also have the option to enjoy the glow worms after dining- this will extend the tour time by approximately an hour at the peak of summer. Day Light savings causes the change.
Arrive at McLarens Falls Park with a safety briefing on arrival. Winter (Apr – Sept) Start with the outside dining experience then look at the glow worms nestled in a forest setting. You can virtually reach out your hand to touch them. Take your time, take photos. Enjoy a sit down buffet styled dinner with Asia flavour consisting of Chicken, Beef, seasonal vegetables stir fry, rice, whole fish, with bottled water, juice, green tea and finish with NZ sweet or biscuit. BYO Wine/Beer
Next we take a Glow worm viewing walk (around the same path) and hand out farewell FREE Gift & link to digital photos.
Depart the park for accommodation.
(W) 2030 Arrive back at your hotel for the night.
Day 2 TAURANGA – AUCKLAND via HAMILTON
0845 Following breakfast we depart the hotel for Hamilton travelling via Matamata, on SH29 with time for a stop in Matamata for a coffee (at your own expense) or to grab a photo of the Hobbit looking i-site.
1045 Arrive at the Hamilton Gardens car park and then make your way to the entrance of the Hamilton Gardens Information Centre to commence your guided tour.
1100 You commence your guided Garden Tour of the Hamilton Gardens Paradise Collection. Following this, there is time to peruse the local souvenir shop or to grab a coffee at the Gardens Café before your Waikato River lunch cruise, or check out your favourite garden again.
1230 You then take a short stroll to the river jetty, adjacent to the back of the Hamilton Gardens Car Park for your Waikato River Explorer Luncheon Cruise on the Waikato River.
1300 You depart on your Luncheon Cruise travelling on the Waikato River with a full commentary on the history of Waikato River including the Maori battles that were fought up and down the river, as well as the history about Hamilton & the Waikato region with lots of photo opportunities along the way.
On board today you will receive Lunch, you can select an item from the following menu options; Soup, Nacho’s, Salad, or a choice of Panini’s and Toasties’ accompanied by tea & coffee. A cash bar is available for alcoholic drinks. A child menu is also available on board.
1430 You arrive back at the jetty and make our way back to the Gardens Car Park to continue your journey to Classics Museum heading back through the city on the SH1 bypass to Dinsdale.
1450 You then arrive at the Classics Museum to view some American and International ‘Classic Cars’ dating back to the 1960’s and many beyond this, amongst a private collection. On arrival
there will be a short welcome and introduction about the Car Museum and the cars on display, some are very unique and expensive vehicles. Following this you will have a 45 minute self-guided experience looking around at the vehicles before departing.
1535 You then commence your return trip to Auckland continuing north on SH 1.
1730 Arrive back in Auckland.
Note: Should you have interest in any of the itineraries, TRNZ encourage you to contact your local New Zealand based Land Operator or DMC to obtain rates and validity.